The Laker Family Network is a resource of the Division of Student Affairs of Grand Valley State University.
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Sept. 18-20

Laker Family Weekend is just a couple of days away! Visit your student for a weekend of events including the Family Weekend Kickoff Party with President Mantella, GVSU Women's Soccer vs. Ferris State University, the RecWell Fun(d) Run, a football game, and more! Explore the full weekend schedule and join your Laker to experience life on campus!

The Recreation and Wellness Center is hosting their annual Family Weekend FunD Run. Whether you walk, run, or jog, your participation makes a difference! Proceeds support the Recreation & Wellness Program Fund, which provides financial support to GVSU students for access to Recreation & Wellness programs that require fees. Register now to support the Laker Community! 

If your student is feeling homesick, here are some tips you can give them:

• Encourage self-care. Encourage your student to exercise and do things that make them feel good, like watching a favorite show, participating in a favorite hobby, or connecting with new people through a student club or organization. It can help them take a break from how they’re feeling.

• Stay positive. While it is important to validate your student’s feelings, express confidence in them and remind them that their feelings won’t last forever.

• Step back (even if it’s tough). Your first instinct might be to call more frequently or encourage your student to return home. While well-intentioned, these can sometimes make homesickness worse. Getting connected on campus is often the best way for students to combat homesickness.

If your student’s homesickness is accompanied by troubling changes in mood or behavior or you are otherwise concerned about your student’s mental health, the University Counseling Center (UCC) is available to help.

The Campus Health Center is here to support your Laker's health and well-being. They offer a wide array of services, appointment availability, and other resources to ensure your students stays healthy. Community Health Workers (CHW) from the Ottawa County Pathways program are one of the resources available at the Campus Health Center.

CHW's help students navigate challenges related to food, housing, health insurance, transportation, financial assistance, disabilities, utilities, and more. Students can meet one-on-one with a CHW and get connected with helpful community resources. Students can visit with a CHW at the Campus Health Center or Replenish, or email gvsuchw@miottawa.org to get connected.

Does your student have questions about their Meal Plan? Here are some tips for your student to get the most out of their Meal Plan:

• Review Meal Plan details and FAQs.

• Encourage your student to explore campus.

• See Menus online.

• Visit mydininghub.com for more info!

• Encourage your student to follow @GvsuFood on TikTok & Instagram.

You're invited to also follow and like @GvsuFood on Facebook — a great resource for dining updates and answers to campus dining questions!

GVSU hosted another successful Welcome Week! Our newest Lakers went to the new student welcome and participated in the long standing tradition of taking their class photo on the football field. All students celebrated at Laker Kickoff with a foam pit, inflatables, a DJ, a drone show, and more! Browse the photo galleries to see all the fun!

Classes are also in full swing! Check out the first day of class photo gallery too, and see if you can spot your Laker.

Group Fitness classes are now free for students! From energizing workouts, yoga and more, there’s something for every fitness level. Tell your student to check out the schedule and sign up for a Mindbody account today!  

What else is free? Anchor into Fitness is a FREE fitness service available to GVSU students! They can meet one-on-one with a fitness specialist who will help assess their current fitness level, answer questions, and support your fitness goals. Tell your Laker about this amazing service!

Mark your calendars on October 3 for GV's 2026 Homecoming Day including the iconic Alumni tailgate and football game. Let your Laker know to keep an eye out for all the fun spirit week events leading up to the big day!

The Center for Health and Well-being and the WIT Peer Educators are pleased to recognize Jennifer Olson, Affiliate Faculty in Health and Physical Education, as the Winter Semester recipient of the Well-Being Award.

Jennifer was nominated by students for her dedication to creating a supportive learning environment and her commitment to student wellness. We are grateful for the many ways she contributes to the health, well-being, and success of GVSU students.

Fall Break: October 25-27

Thanksgiving Recess: November 25 - 29

Commencement: December 12

Exams: December 14-19

Academic Calendar

Events Calendar

A gift of any size to the Laker Family Fund goes directly to supporting students and ensures students have access to programs and academic resources that help them succeed at Grand Valley.